Dual element storage device

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for storing organic smoking material. The apparatus includes a first container sized to receive the organic smoking material. A second container is adjoined to the first container and is sized to receive and retain a pipe for smoking the organic smoking material. The first container includes a first lid and the second container includes a second lid, the first container and the second container are a unitary structure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

n/a

FIELD

The present technology is generally related to containers for storing and loading organic smoking material and related accessories.

BACKGROUND

Smokers of organic smoking material typically carry small amounts of organic smoking material and smoking paraphernalia, such as a pipe. When ready to smoke, a smoker typically removes a small amount of smoking material from bag and manually places the smoking material into the pipe, which is carried separately from the bag of smoking material. Because the pipe is carried separately from the organic smoking material, one or the other may be forgotten. Moreover, because the pipe is typically loaded by hand, smoking material may be wasted and/or the user's fingers may smell or be covered with the organic smoking material.

SUMMARY

The techniques of this disclosure generally relate to containers for storing and loading organic smoking material and related accessories.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for storing organic smoking material. The apparatus includes a first container sized to receive the organic smoking material. A second container is adjoined to the first container and is sized to receive and retain a pipe for smoking the organic smoking material. The first container includes a first lid and the second container includes a second lid, the first container and the second container are a unitary structure.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the first container defines a reservoir therein, and wherein at least a portion of the reservoir includes a first floor, the first floor defining a first face facing an interior of the reservoir and an opposite second face, at least a portion of the first face defines a cavity.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the second face includes a plurality of cleaning elements extending away from the second face.

In another aspect of this embodiment, each of the plurality of cleaning elements are separated by a plurality of walls.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the first lid is coplanar with the second lid when the first lid and the second lid are closed.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the first container defines a first diameter and the second container defines a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the second container includes a second floor, the second floor including an elongate rod disposed extending from the second floor toward an interior of the second container.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the elongate rod is sized and configured to be received within a portion of the pipe.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the apparatus further includes a spacer element disposed between the first container and the second container, the spacer element being molded as part of the unitary structure.

In another embodiment, an apparatus for storing organic smoking material includes a first container sized to receive the organic smoking material. A second container is adjoined to the first container and is sized to receive and retain a pipe for smoking the organic smoking material. The first container includes a first end including first lid and an opposite second end. The second container includes a third end including a second lid and an opposite fourth end, the first container and the second container are a unitary structure. The first container includes a first floor spaced a distance from the second end and the second container includes a second floor coplanar with the fourth end.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the first container defines a reservoir therein, and wherein the first floor defines a first face facing an interior of the reservoir and an opposite second face, at least a portion of the first face defines a cavity.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the second face includes a plurality of cleaning elements extending away from the second face.

In another aspect of this embodiment, each of the plurality of cleaning elements are separated by a plurality of walls.

In another aspect of this embodiment, each of the plurality of cleaning elements are configured to dislodge the organic smoking material from the pipe.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the first lid is coplanar with the second lid when the first lid and the second lid are closed.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the first container defines a first diameter and the second container defines a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.

In another aspect of this embodiment, second container includes a second floor, the second floor including an elongate rod disposed extending from the second floor toward an interior of the second container.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the elongate rod is sized and configured to be received within a portion of the pipe.

In another aspect of this embodiment, the apparatus further includes a spacer element disposed between the first container and the second container, the spacer element being molded as part of the unitary structure.

In another embodiment an apparatus for storing organic smoking material includes a first container sized to receive the organic smoking material. A second container is adjoined to the first container by a spacer element, the spacer element defining a proximal end and a distal end. The second container is sized to receive and retain a pipe for smoking the organic smoking material. The first container defines a first diameter and the second container defines a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. The first container includes a first end including first lid and an opposite second end, the second container includes a third end including a second lid and an opposite fourth end, the first container and the second container being a unitary structure. The first container includes a first floor spaced a distance from the second end and the second container includes a second floor substantially co-planar with the fourth end, the second end, and the distal end of the spacer element.

The details of one or more aspects of the disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the techniques described in this disclosure will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an apparatus for storing organic smoking material constructed in accordance with the principles of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with a pipe inside the first container; and

FIG. 5 is a front cross-sectional of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with a pipe engaged to a cleaning element of the first container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in FIGS. 1-3 an exemplary apparatus for storing and loading organic smoking material and accessories constructed in accordance with the principles of the present application and designated generally as “10.” The apparatus 10 includes a first container 12 sized and configured to receive organic smoking material. For example, the first container 12 may be tubular in construction, or any shape, and composed of a rigid material, for example, polycarbonate, or a flexible material, for example, thermoplastic polyurethane. The first container may further define a first end 14 and an opposite second end 16. A first lid 18 movably coupled to the first container 12 is included and is disposed at the first end 14. The first lid 18 may be coupled to the first end 14 by a hinge 20, for example, a living hinge composed of the same material as that of the first container 12. To accommodate the first lid 18, the first container 12 may define a lip 21 having a larger diameter than that of the first container 12 such that the first lid 18 nests within the lip 21 within the first container 12.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the first container 12 may define a reservoir 22 therein. At least a portion of the reservoir 20 includes a first floor 24 proximate the second end 16. For example, the first floor 24 may be spaced a distance from the second end 16 such that it is recessed from the first end 14 of the first container 12. The first floor 24 may define a first face 26 facing an interior of the reservoir 22 and an opposite second face 28. In one configuration, at least a portion of the first face 26 defines a cavity 30. In particular, the first floor 24 may define a recessed surface proximate the center of the first floor 24. The cavity 30 may be sized to conform to a pipe 29 to load smoking material into the pipe when the pipe is pushed into the cavity 30, which forces the organic material retained within the reservoir 22 into the pipe. In such a configuration, the first container 12 provides for a pipe loading feature. For example, in one embodiment, the cavity is circular is shape, and has a diameter larger than the diameter of the pipe.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the second face 28 may define a plurality of cleaning elements 32 extending from the second face 28 in the direction of the second end 16. Each cleaning element 32 may be elongated rods including a plurality of barbs or other protrusions configured to dislodge organic material from the inside of a pipe. The diameter of the cleaning elements 32 is smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe such that a cleaning element 32 is positioning inside and against the inner wall of the pipe when the pipe is inserted onto a cleaning element 32. In one configuration, three cleaning elements 32 are included, each of the cleaning elements 32 be separated by a plurality of walls 34. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, each of the plurality of walls 34 extends father toward the second end 16 than the cleaning elements 32 to protect a user's fingers from the cleaning elements 32. The cleaning elements 32 and the plurality of walls 34 may be co-molded as a unitary structure with the first container 12 and be composed of the same or different materials than that of the first container 12. In one configuration, the cleaning elements 32 may be metal or a plastic with a higher Shore durometer hardness than that of the first container 12. In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, each of three cleaning elements 32 are separated from an adjacent cleaning element 32 by two of the plurality of walls 34.

Referring back now to FIGS. 1-2, adjoined to the first container 12 is a second container 36. The second container 36, which may be tubular in shape, or any shape, is sized and configured to received and retain a pipe (not shown) for smoking the organic smoking material. In one configuration, the second container 36 and the first container 12 are the same height, but may be different heights in other configurations. The second container 36 may define a third end 38 and a fourth end 40 opposite the third end. In one configuration, the third end is substantially co-planar with the first end 14 of the first container 12 and the fourth end 40 is substantially co-planar with the second end 16 of the first container 12. The second container 36 may include a second lid 42 movable coupled to the third end 38. Similar to the first container 12, the second container 36 may include a lip 44 defining a larger diameter than the diameter of the second container 36 in which the second lid resides when closed. In one configuration, when the first lid 18 is closed it is substantially coplanar with the second lid 42. The second lid 42 may further include a hinge 46, such a living hinge similar to the first lid 42. In the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first container 12 defines a larger diameter than that of the second container 26, however, in other configurations the first container 12 and the second container 36 may be the same size or differently sized.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 2, the second container 26 may include a second floor 48 substantially coplanar with the fourth end 40. Extending from the second floor 48 toward an interior of the second container 36 may be an elongate rod 50, for example, a poker, configured to receive an opening of the pipe 29 to dislodge particles from the interior of the pipe 29 and/or retain the pipe 29 within the second container 48. The elongate rod 50 may extend substantially orthogonally from the second floor 48 for a distance and terminate at a position before the third end 38. An inner diameter of the pipe 29 is therefore larger than an outer diameter of the elongate rod 50,

Referring back now to FIGS. 1-3, a spacer element 52 is disposed between the first container 12 and the second container 36. The spacer element 52 is configured to adjoin and space the first container 12 to the second container 36. In some embodiments, the spacer element 52 is part of the unitary structure. In one configuration, the spacer element 52 is rectangular in shape but may be any shape or size. In one configuration, a portion of spacer element 52 may be co-planer with the first and third ends 14, 38 and the opposite portion of the spacer element may be co-planer with the second and fourth ends 16, 40 to provide stability for the apparatus 10 when the apparatus is standing upright. In another configuration, the spacer element 52 is shorter than either of the first container 12 or second container 36.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the pipe 29 is shown within the first container 12 in contact with and receiving within the cavity 30. An outer diameter of the pipe 29 is smaller than an inner diameter of the cavity 30 such that the pipe can be received within the cavity 30. In one configuration, the inner diameter of the cavity 38 is only slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pipe 9 such that the pipe 29 is friction fit within the cavity, which may aide in the loading of the pipe 29 with organic smoking material.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the pipe 29 is shown engaged to one of the cleaning elements 32. As shown, an outer diameter of the cleaning elements 32 is the same or smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe 29. In one configuration, the user may move the pipe 29 back and forth while the pipe is engaged to the respective cleaning element 32 to dislodge any organic material than may be retained within the pipe 29.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for storing organic smoking material, the apparatus comprising: a first container sized to receive the organic smoking material; and a second container adjoined to the first container and sized to receive and retain a pipe for smoking the organic smoking material, the first container including a first lid and the second container including a second lid, the first container and the second container being a unitary structure.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first container defines a reservoir therein, and wherein at least a portion of the reservoir includes a first floor, the first floor defining a first face facing an interior of the reservoir and an opposite second face, at least a portion of the first face defines a cavity.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second face includes a plurality of cleaning elements extending away from the second face.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of cleaning elements are separated by a plurality of walls.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first lid is coplanar with the second lid when the first lid and the second lid are closed.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first container defines a first diameter and the second container defines a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second container includes a second floor, the second floor including an elongate rod disposed extending from the second floor toward an interior of the second container.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the elongate rod is sized and configured to be received within a portion of the pipe.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a spacer element disposed between the first container and the second container, the spacer element being molded as part of the unitary structure.
 10. An apparatus for storing organic smoking material, the apparatus comprising: a first container sized to receive the organic smoking material; a second container adjoined to the first container and sized to receive and retain a pipe for smoking the organic smoking material, the first container including a first end including first lid and an opposite second end, the second container including a third end including a second lid and an opposite fourth end, the first container and the second container being a unitary structure; and the first container includes a first floor spaced a distance from the second end and the second container includes a second floor coplanar with the fourth end.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first container defines a reservoir therein, and wherein the first floor defines a first face facing an interior of the reservoir and an opposite second face, at least a portion of the first face defines a cavity.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second face includes a plurality of cleaning elements extending away from the second face.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of cleaning elements are separated by a plurality of walls.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of cleaning elements are configured to dislodge the organic smoking material from the pipe.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first lid is coplanar with the second lid when the first lid and the second lid are closed.
 16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first container defines a first diameter and the second container defines a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.
 17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein second container includes a second floor, the second floor including an elongate rod disposed extending from the second floor toward an interior of the second container.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the elongate rod is sized and configured to be received within a portion of the pipe.
 19. The apparatus of claim 10, further including a spacer element disposed between the first container and the second container, the spacer element being molded as part of the unitary structure.
 20. An apparatus for storing organic smoking material, the apparatus comprising: a first container sized to receive the organic smoking material; a second container adjoined to the first container by a spacer element, the spacer element defining a proximal end and a distal end, the second container being sized to receive and retain a pipe for smoking the organic smoking material, the first container defining a first diameter and the second container defining a second diameter smaller than the first diameter; the first container including a first end including first lid and an opposite second end, the second container including a third end including a second lid and an opposite fourth end, the first container and the second container being a unitary structure; and the first container includes a first floor spaced a distance from the second end and the second container includes a second floor substantially co-planar with the fourth end, the second end, and the distal end of the spacer element. 